Antiseptic device for sound-transmitter mouthpieces.



No. 637,538. Patented Nov. 2|, I899.

G.W. VAN ALSTINE. ANTISEPTIC DEVICE FOR SOUND TRANSMITTER MOUTHP|ECES.-

(Application filed Aug. 3, 1899.) (No Model.)

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GEORGE IV. VAN ALSTINE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR THE ANTISEPTIC APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF .SAME PLACE.

ANTISEPTIC DEVICE FOR SOUND-TRANSMiTTER MOUTHPIECES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,538, dated November 21, 1899.

Application filed August 3, 1899.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. VAN AL- STINE, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Antiseptic Devices for Sound Transmitter Mouthpieces, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements upon an antiseptic device for soundtransmitter mouthpieces which is described and claimed in an application for Letters Patent of the United States which was' filed in the United States Patent Ofice on the 6th day of April, 1899, Serial No. 712,004, and in which is shown a detachable cup formed of antiseptic gauze and inserted into the mouthpiece to form a receptacle in the mouthpiece, with its bottom transverse said mouthpiece and forming a shield inside the same, a ring or rim piece of metal provided with spring-tongues being applied to' hold the cup in the mouthpiece of the sound-transmitter.

The object of my present invention is to provide more complete protection for the mouthpiece than has heretofore been provided in any article of this class; also, to prevent the possibility of any germs or impurities lodging upon or coming in contact with any permanent portion or attachment pertaining to the mouthpiece which is presented toward the mouth of the speaker.

Another object is to add to the facility of removing and renewing the protective cup.

In my present invention I provide a cup formed of antiseptic gauze returned upon itself at the edge of said cup to form a continuous channel to fit upon and wholly chamher and protect the rim of the mouthpiece, the edge of said channel being further inturned toward the walls of the cup to clasp the flaring edge of the mouthpiece. Preferably the gauze is reinforced at the edge to give greater stiffness and greater permanency to the clasp. This reinforcement may be by an application of glue or gum, which will become stiff when dried, or a reinforcement of antiseptic gauze or cloth or any other suit Serial No. 726,038. (No model.)

B able material may be applied for this purpose at the rim. The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a view of a transmitter-mouthpiece provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the same. Fig. 3 is an axial section showing a reinforcement at the bottom of the cup and also showing a reinforcement of cloth at the edge of the cup. This view is on an exaggerated scale for clearness of illustration.

A indicates a mouthpiece.

B indicates the protecting-cup, formed of a porous gauze which has been treated with an antiseptic substance. I prefer to use gauze which has been treated with a solution of corrosive sublimate, one to one thousand parts. In addition to this antiseptic substance applied to the gauze I also preferably introduce to the gauze in the process of manufacture such other well-known antiseptics as formaldehyde, thymol, menthol, gum-camphor, oil of cinnamon, carbolic acid, and oil of eucalyptus, the edge of the gauze cup being returned upon itself at the edge, as at b, and sprung inward toward the walls I) of the cup at the extreme edge b" of the gauze which forms the cup.

C indicates a reinforcing material at th rim of the cup.

D indicates a reinforcing bottom piece of antiseptic gauze for the bottom of the cup.

In manufacturing my newly-invented antiseptic device the antiseptic gauze will first be stamped or pressed in'dies or molds into a tapering form to fit within the tapering mouthpiece and the edge of the gauze will be turned back to form the channel. The dies or molds with which the pressure is applied will preferably be heated and the antiseptic gauze will preferably be sufficientlydamp from the solution with which it has been treated to cause the gauze to set neatly under the pressure of the dies or molds to form a conical cup to fit into the mouthpiece.

Where the cup is reinforced at its rim by gum, glue, or paste, the reinforcing substance may be applied to the rim while the cup is in the mold, and after the same is suflicieutly dried the rim maybe forced down upon the female member of the die or mold and pressed inward to fit it to the required form.

In case the cup is reinforced by a piece of separate material such material is preferably formed in a ring which is placed upon the outside of the cup and pressed into form with the main portion of the cup, its outer edge extending to the edge of the cup, and the rim of the cup is then turned back upon itself the. same as above described. The reinforcing portion will preferably be attached to the main portion by starch,- glue, or gum.

In practical use the cup will be inserted into the mouthpiece and pushed home to embrace the rim of the mouthpiece within the channel at the rim of the cup. The rim of the cup thus forms a complete protection for the rim of the mouthpiece, while the inserted portion of the cup protects the interior of the mouthpiece, thus preventing any possible chance for any germs or impurities to lodge upon the rim or interior of the mouthpiece, and such germs as may be blown into the cup will be immediately destroyed by the corresive sublimate or other antiseptic substance carried by the gauze, solong as its antiseptic qualities are active. If left until it becomes inactive, the impurities will still be held inside the cup and therefore away from the lips of the user of the mouthpiece and ready to be instantly removed without inconvenience.

Vhen it is desired to renew the antiseptic cup, this can be instantly done by removing the cup which is in the mouthpiece and replacing it with a new one.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An antiseptic device for sound-transmitter mouthpieces comprising a cup formed of antiseptic gauze returned uponitself at the edge of said cup to form a channel to fit upon and chamber the rim of the mouthpiece.

2. An antiseptic device for sound-transmitter mouthpieces comprising a cup formed of antiseptic gauze with reinforcement at the edge of said cup and said cup being returned upon itself at the edge to chamber the rim of the mouthpiece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE \V. VAN ALSTINE.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. 'lownsnxu, F. M. 'lowNsnNp. 

